Paul Picerni's early childhood aspirations lay in the realm of law, with the intention of becoming an attorney, but his trajectory took a dramatic turn after being cast in an eighth-grade play, which caught the attention of the school principal, who praised him as a "born actor". This newfound passion led him to participate in various little theater productions, followed by his debut on the stage at Loyola University.
After serving in the United States Air Force during World War II, Picerni's acting career continued to flourish, with his next appearance being in a play in Hollywood, where he was discovered by Solly V. Bianco, the head of talent at Warner Brothers. Bianco brought Picerni to the studio, where he was given a role in the 1950 film "Breakthrough", a WWII action movie that aptly foreshadowed the successful career that lay ahead.
This breakthrough role led to a contract with Warner Brothers, securing Picerni a long-term partnership with the studio and a plethora of subsequent roles. He is perhaps most famously known for his supporting role on the classic TV series "The Untouchables" (1959),starring alongside Robert Stack.
In his personal life, Picerni is the proud father of eight children and grandfather of ten.
